“It’s a great night to win,” Smith said. “Brian deserves a lot of credit. When you’re leading, you’re trying not to give it away. It’s an advantage for the second place car. I had nothing to lose.”

A crash occurred coming off turn two on the first lap when Donnie Kreitz’s car slowed causing oncoming cars to make contact. Rick Lafferty and Tyler Walker were flip victims and several others were involved. No injuries were reported.

Leppo, of New Oxford, grabbed the early lead over Chad Layton. The battle was for third spot between Smith, Alan Krimes and Brian Montieth, who started 10th.

A yellow on lap five slowed the pace.

Leppo, who has Steve Smith Sr. as his mechanic, checked out on the field after the restart as Montieth drove by Krimes and into fourth. Montieth and Smith traded sliders in the first and second turns on lap 11 with Smith maintaining third.

Leppo closed on slower traffic on lap 15. Leppo tried to put a lap on David Gravel in turn two, but lost momentum allowing Layton, Smith and Montieth to close.

Three lapped cars were racing in front of Leppo with 13 laps to go, but just as the race for the lead was about to get interesting, the yellow flag flew for Doug Esh’s slowing sprinter in turn four.

Smith, who calls Broken Arrow, Okla., home now, began to close on Leppo with five laps to go. Leppo caught Gravel again and followed him for one lap before trying to move low in turn three to lap him.

Leppo lost his momentum and Smith used a first turn slider to take the lead. Leppo wasn’t done as he shot under Smith in turn three. Smith turned back under Leppo as they raced off turn four. They were side-by-side as they raced down the frontstretch for the checkered flag.

Smith was the winner by inches over Leppo, Montieth, Daryn Pittman and Fred Rahmer. Krimes, Greg Hodnett, Chad Layton, Lance Dewease and All Star point leader Tim Shaffer completed the top 10.

“I was going to go the opposite direction,” Smith said. “I got to his bumper and was able to try a slider. We had just enough momentum to keep in front of him.”

“It’s hard to swallow because you lead that many laps,” Leppo said. “I’ve been racing long enough to make better decisions.”

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